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Heritage funds support St. Luke’s paint job

Heritage funding is helping to freshen up a historic Saanich church.
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Painters apply a fresh coat to the interior of St. Luke’s Cedar Hill Anglican Church. Work on the historic Saanich church is expected to wrap up by the end of February. (Photo submitted)

Heritage funding is helping to freshen up a historic Saanich church.

Work is now underway painting the interior of St. Luke’s Cedar Hill Anglican Church. The church has stood at the corner of Cedar Hill and Cedar Hill Cross Road since 1887.

The church received a $14,500 grant from the Heritage Legacy Fund last year to go towards the $33,700 cost to paint the interior and exterior of the building. Painting of the exterior was completed last summer, with the interior work expected to be wrapped up by the end of February.

“We weren’t allowed to do any painting of anything that wasn’t painted before. You’re not allowed to power-wash, they wanted it painted similar to the way it was before. So the rules are quite stringent as to how it’s cared for,” St. Luke’s rector’s warden Marlene Mitten said previously.

St. Luke’s has served as a place of worship as well as a gathering place for the congregation and community at large since 1860, with its grounds encompassing one of the oldest cemeteries in Greater Victoria where many of the area’s pioneers are buried.

“These projects will increase awareness and interpretation of historic places in communities throughout the province,” said Heritage B.C. chair Gord Macdonald. “There is so much great work happening, and these projects will have real impact on the communities and how we tell our story as British Columbians.”

The painting project is the latest in a series of projects that have taken place at the Saanich church.

“With a church of this age it’s constant. There’s constant upkeep, the buildings are old,” said Mitten, adding work was done on the church’s roof and bathrooms last year, with a renovation to the kitchens on the horizon for 2018.



Dan Ebenal

About the Author: Dan Ebenal

Throughout my career, I've taken on roles as a reporter and editor in more than a dozen newsrooms across the province.
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